Risk Factors Dashboard

Once a year, publicly traded companies issue a comprehensive report of their business, called a 10-K. A component mandated in the 10-K is the ‘Risk Factors’ section, where companies disclose any major potential risks that they may face. This dashboard highlights all major changes and additions in new 10K reports, allowing investors to quickly identify new potential risks and opportunities.

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Risk Factors - FOXA

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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Prospective investors should consider carefully the risk factors set forth below before making an investment in the Company’s securities.
Risks Related to Macroeconomic Conditions, Our Business and Our Industry
Changes in consumer behavior and evolving technologies and distribution platforms and offerings continue to challenge existing business models and may adversely affect the Company's business, financial condition or results of operations.
The ways in which consumers view content and technology and business models in our industry continue to rapidly evolve. New distribution platforms and offerings, increased competition from new entrants and emerging technologies have added to the complexity of maintaining predictable revenue streams. New distribution platforms and increased competition from new entrants and emerging technologies have added to the complexity of maintaining predictable revenue streams. Technological advancements have driven changes in consumer behavior as consumers now have more control over when, where and how they consume content and have increased advertisers' options for reaching their target audiences. Consumer preferences have evolved toward direct-to-consumer offerings such as SVOD, AVOD and FAST services. Consumer preferences have evolved toward SVOD, AVOD and FAST services and other direct-to-consumer offerings. An increasing number of FAST and SVOD services that have introduced advertising-supported tiers has intensified competition for digital advertising and may continue to do so in the future. An increasing number of FAST services and SVOD services that have introduced advertising-supported tiers has intensified competition for digital advertising and may continue to do so in the future. In addition, the increasing use of time-shifting and advertising-skipping technologies that enable viewers to fast-forward or circumvent advertisements impacts the attractiveness of the Company's programming to advertisers and may adversely affect its advertising revenues. Other new technological developments are rapidly evolving in our industry such as the development and use of generative AI, including large language model applications, and the advantages and risks associated with its use are largely uncertain. Other new technological developments, including the development and use of generative AI in our industry, are rapidly evolving, and the advantages and risks associated with its use are largely uncertain.
Changes in consumer behavior and technology have also had an adverse impact on MVPDs that deliver the Company's broadcast and cable networks to consumers. Consumers’ increasing viewership through direct-to-consumer offerings has contributed to industry-wide declines in subscribers to MVPD services over the last several years. Consumers are increasingly turning to direct-to-consumer offerings, which has contributed to industry-wide declines in subscribers to MVPD services over the last several years. These declines are expected to continue and possibly accelerate in the future. If consumers increasingly favor alternative offerings over MVPD subscriptions, the Company may continue to experience a decline in viewership and demand for the programming on its networks. The Company’s affiliate fee and advertising revenues have been negatively impacted by these trends, and these negative effects could continue and accelerate in the future. Changing distribution models may also negatively impact the Company's ability to negotiate affiliation agreements on favorable terms, which could have an adverse effect on its business, financial condition or results of operations. Our affiliate fee and advertising revenues also may be adversely affected by consumers' use of antennas (and their integration with set-top boxes or other consumer devices) to access broadcast signals to avoid subscriptions.
To remain competitive in this evolving environment, the Company must effectively anticipate and adapt to new market changes. The Company continues to focus on investing in and expanding its digital distribution offerings and direct engagement with consumers, including through Tubi, FOX Nation, FOX Weather and other offerings such as the FOX One direct-to-consumer subscription streaming service expected to launch by the Fall of 2025. However, if the Company fails to effectively safeguard and monetize the value of its content while responding to, and developing new technologies and business models to take advantage of, technological developments and consumer preferences, it could have a significant adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition or results of operations. The Company continues to focus on investing in and expanding its digital distribution offerings and direct engagement with consumers, including through Tubi, FOX Nation, FOX Weather and other offerings such as the Venu Sports streaming service expected to launch in the fall of 2024. However, if the Company fails to effectively protect and exploit the value of its content while responding to, and developing new technologies and business models to take advantage of, technological developments and consumer preferences, it could have a significant adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition or results of operations.
The Company derives substantial revenues from the sale of advertising, and declines in advertising expenditures have caused, and could continue to cause, the Company’s revenues and operating results to decline significantly in any given period or in specific markets.
FOX’s advertising revenues have been, and may continue to be, adversely affected by factors such as changes in consumer behavior, advertising market conditions and deficiencies in audience measurement, and they vary substantially due to cyclical sports events and elections.
The evolution of consumer preferences toward direct-to-consumer streaming offerings and other digital products and the increasing number of entertainment choices has intensified audience fragmentation and reduced viewership through traditional linear distribution models. This has caused ratings and viewership declines for television networks, including some of our networks. These changes have also given rise to new
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ways of purchasing advertising, as well as a general shift in advertising expenditures toward streaming and other digital offerings, some of which may not be as beneficial to us as traditional advertising methods. In addition, increased digital advertising available in the marketplace due to the proliferation of advertising-supported direct-to-consumer offerings has intensified, and may continue to intensify, competition for viewers and advertising. Periods of economic weakness also could accelerate industry-wide shifts in advertising expenditures from linear to digital advertising. There can be no assurance that we can successfully navigate the evolving digital advertising market or that the digital advertising revenues we generate will offset the declines in advertising revenues generated by our traditional linear networks.
The strength of the advertising market can fluctuate in response to the economic prospects of specific advertisers or industries, advertisers' spending priorities and the economy in general or the economy of an individual geographic market as described further below. Our ability to generate advertising revenue also depends on demand for our content, the viewers in our targeted demographics, advertising rates, targeting capabilities, results observed by advertisers, the perceived effectiveness of our advertising offerings and alternative advertising options. In addition, factors such as terrorist acts, wars, political uncertainties and hostilities, natural and other disasters and widespread health emergencies can also negatively impact advertising revenues.
Major sports events, such as the NFL’s Super Bowl and the FIFA World Cup and the state, congressional and presidential election cycles also may cause the Company's advertising revenues to vary substantially from year to year. Political advertising expenditures are impacted by the ability and willingness of candidates and political action campaigns to raise and spend funds on advertising and the competitive nature of the elections affecting viewers in markets featuring our programming.
Advertising sales also largely depend on audience measurement and could be negatively affected if measurement methodologies do not accurately reflect actual viewership levels. Although Nielsen’s statistical sampling method is the primary measurement methodology used for our linear television advertising sales, we measure and monetize our digital platforms based on a combination of internal and third-party data, including demographic composite estimates. The industry is transitioning to a multiplatform measurement environment in an effort to more completely measure viewership and advertising across linear and digital platforms, but has not yet established a consistent, broadly accepted measure of multiplatform audiences. Although we expect multiplatform measurement innovation and standards to benefit us as the advertising market continues to evolve and are actively working to improve our internal measurement capabilities, we are still largely dependent on third parties to provide these solutions. Although we expect multiplatform measurement innovation and standards to benefit us as the advertising market continues to evolve, we are still partially dependent on third parties to provide these solutions. Declines in advertising revenues may also be caused by regulatory intervention or other third-party action that impacts where and when advertising may be placed. If negative impacts on advertising revenues continue or accelerate, they could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition or results of operations.
Because the Company derives a significant portion of its revenues from a limited number of distributors, the failure to enter into or renew affiliation and carriage agreements on favorable terms, or at all, could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition or results of operations.
The Company depends on affiliation and carriage arrangements that enable it to reach a large percentage of households through MVPDs and third party-owned television stations. There can be no assurance that these agreements will be renewed in the future, or renewed on favorable terms, including terms related to pricing, programming tiers and bundles, and the types of rights we grant distributors. The inability to enter into or renew MVPD arrangements on favorable terms, or at all, or the loss of carriage on MVPDs’ most widely distributed programming tiers or their targeted, genre-focused programming tiers (sometimes referred to as “skinny bundles”) could reduce the distribution of the Company’s owned and operated television stations and broadcast and cable networks, which could adversely affect the Company’s revenues from affiliate fees and its ability to sell national and local advertising time. The inability to enter into or renew MVPD arrangements on favorable terms, or at all, or the loss of carriage on MVPDs’ basic programming tiers could reduce the distribution of the Company’s owned and operated television stations and broadcast and cable networks, which could adversely affect the Company’s revenues from affiliate fees and its ability to sell national and local advertising time. The loss of favorable MVPD packaging, positioning, pricing or other marketing opportunities could also negatively impact the Company’s revenues from affiliate fees. Consolidation among MVPDs, their increased vertical integration into the cable or broadcast network business or their use of alternative technologies to offer their subscribers access to local broadcast network programming could increase their negotiating leverage. Competitive pressures faced by MVPDs, particularly in light of evolving consumer viewing patterns and distribution models, could adversely affect the terms of our contract renewals with MVPDs. In addition, our strategic initiatives could negatively impact our ability to renew our MVPD
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agreements on terms that are favorable to all our networks. If the Company and an MVPD reach an impasse in contract renewal negotiations, the Company's networks and owned and operated television stations could become unavailable to the MVPD’s subscribers (i.e., “go dark”), which, depending on the length of time and the size of the MVPD, could have a negative impact on the Company's revenues from affiliate fees and advertising.
The Company also depends on the maintenance of affiliation agreements and license agreements with third party-owned television stations to distribute the FOX Network and MyNetworkTV in markets where the Company does not own television stations. Consolidation among television station group owners could increase their negotiating leverage and reduce the number of available distribution partners. There can be no assurance that these affiliation and license agreements will be renewed in the future on terms favorable to the Company, or at all. The inability to enter into affiliation or licensing arrangements with third-party owned television stations on favorable terms could reduce distribution of the FOX Network and MyNetworkTV and the inability to enter into such affiliation or licensing arrangements for the FOX Network on favorable terms could adversely affect the Company's affiliate fee revenues and its ability to sell national advertising time.
In addition, the Company has arrangements through which it makes its content available for viewing through third-party online video platforms. If these arrangements are not renewed on favorable or commercially reasonable terms or at all, it could adversely affect the Company's revenues and results of operations.
If the number of subscribers to MVPD services continues to decline or such declines accelerate, the Company’s affiliate fee and advertising revenues could be negatively affected.
As described above, changes in technology and consumer behavior have contributed to industry-wide declines in the number of subscribers to MVPD services over the last several years, which have had a negative impact on the number of subscribers to the Company’s networks.As described above, changes in technology and consumer behavior have contributed to industry-wide declines in the number of subscribers to MVPD services, which have had a negative impact on the number of subscribers to the Company’s networks. These industry-wide subscriber declines are expected to continue and possibly accelerate in the future. The majority of the Company’s affiliation agreements with MVPDs are multi-year contracts that provide for payments to the Company that are based in part on the number of MVPD subscribers covered by the agreement. If declines in the number of MVPD subscribers are not fully offset by affiliate rate increases, the Company’s affiliate fee revenues will be negatively affected. Because MVPD subscriber losses could also decrease the potential audience for the Company’s networks, which is a critical factor affecting both the pricing and volume of advertising, future MVPD subscriber declines could also adversely impact the Company’s advertising revenues.
The Company is exposed to risks associated with weak economic conditions and increased volatility and disruption in the financial markets.
Prevailing economic conditions and the state of the financial markets affect various aspects of our business. Factors that have affected and could in the future affect economic and financial conditions include actual or perceived uncertainty about economic stability (including taxes and tariffs) and social and political uncertainties and conflicts, changes in consumer confidence, recession, high inflation, declining economic growth, diminished availability of credit, higher interest rates, unemployment rates and changes in consumer spending habits. In recent years, the US economy has experienced a period of weakness and the financial markets have experienced significant volatility as a result of factors including declines in consumer confidence, concerns regarding high inflation, uncertainty about economic stability and political and sociopolitical uncertainties and conflicts, declining economic growth, diminished availability of credit and the COVID-19 pandemic. Weak economic conditions have had and may continue to have an adverse impact on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations. For example, reduced advertising expenditures due to a weak economy can negatively impact our advertising revenues, and increasing inflation raises our labor and other costs required to operate our business. For example, reduced advertising expenditures due to a weak economy can negatively impact our advertising revenues, as described above, and increasing inflation raises our labor and other costs required to operate our business. Increased volatility and weakness in the financial markets, the further tightening of credit markets or a decrease in our debt ratings assigned by ratings agencies could adversely affect our ability to cost-effectively refinance outstanding indebtedness or obtain new financing.
The Company also faces risks associated with the impact of weak economic conditions and disruption in the financial markets on third parties with which the Company does business, including advertisers, affiliates, suppliers, wholesale distributors, retailers, lenders, insurers, vendors, retailers, banks and others. For instance, the inability of the Company’s counterparties to obtain capital on acceptable terms could impair their ability to perform under their agreements with the Company and lead to negative effects on the Company, including business disruptions, decreased revenues and increases in bad debt expenses.
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There can be no assurance that weakening of economic conditions or volatility or disruption in the financial markets will not occur. If they do, it could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s business, financial condition or results of operations.
The Company operates in a rapidly evolving and highly competitive industry.23The Company operates in a highly competitive industry.
The Company competes with other companies for high-quality content, talent, audiences, advertisers’ expenditures and distribution.The Company competes with other companies for high-quality content to reach large audiences and generate advertising revenue. The Company’s ability to compete effectively depends on a number of factors, including our ability to consistently offer popular content, successfully adapt to evolving technologies and distribution platforms and offerings, and maintain widespread distribution of our content. Increased competition in the acquisition of programming may affect the scope of rights we are able to acquire and the cost of such rights, and the future value of the rights we acquire or retain cannot be predicted with certainty. Increased competition in the acquisition of programming may also affect the scope of rights we are able to acquire and the cost of such rights, and the future value of the rights we acquire or retain cannot be predicted with certainty.
The composition of our competitors has evolved in recent years with the entrance of new participants, including companies in adjacent sectors with significant financial, marketing and other resources, greater efficiencies of scale, fewer regulatory burdens and more competitive pricing. Our competitors include companies with interests in multiple media businesses that are often vertically integrated, as well as companies in adjacent sectors with significant financial, marketing and other resources, greater efficiencies of scale, fewer regulatory burdens and more competitive pricing. These competitors could also have preferential access to competitive information such as customer data or important technologies such as generative AI technologies, including large language model applications. These competitors could also have preferential access to competitive information, including customer data, or important technologies, such as those that use AI. Generative AI may enable new competitors to rapidly produce large volumes of content and replicate or imitate our proprietary content without authorization, attribution or compensation. This could dilute the value of our content, reduce audience engagement or lead to negative impacts on our revenues. In addition, our ability to compete could be negatively affected if our efforts to enhance the value of our offerings with these technologies are not successful. Our competitors also include companies with interests in multiple media and entertainment businesses that are vertically integrated. The media and entertainment industry is undergoing a period of rapid and significant change, with several industry participants in the midst of transformative transactions that may further complicate the competitive environment. Industry consolidation and alliances among industry participants have also increased, and may continue to do so, intensifying competitive pressures.
There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to compete successfully in the future against existing or potential competitors or that competition in the marketplace will not have a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition or results of operations.
Acceptance of the Company's content by the public is difficult to predict, which could lead to fluctuations in or adverse impacts on revenues.
Programming distribution is a speculative business since the revenues derived from the distribution of content depend primarily on its acceptance by the public, which is difficult to predict. Low public acceptance of the Company's content will adversely affect the Company’s results of operations. The commercial success of our programming also depends on the quality and acceptance of other competing programming, the growing number of alternative forms of entertainment and leisure activities, general economic conditions and their effects on consumer spending and other tangible and intangible factors, all of which can change and cannot be predicted with certainty. Moreover, we must often invest substantial amounts in programming and the acquisition of sports rights before we learn the extent to which the content will earn consumer acceptance and, as described below, competition for popular content, particularly sports and entertainment programming, is intense. A decline in the ratings or popularity of the Company’s news, sports or entertainment programming or the Company's failure to obtain or retain rights to popular content could adversely affect the Company’s advertising revenues in the near term and, over a longer period of time, its affiliate fee revenues.
Our business depends on the popularity of special sports events and the continued popularity of the sports leagues and teams for which we have programming rights.
Our sports business depends on the popularity and success of the sports franchises, leagues and teams for which we have acquired broadcast and cable network programming rights. If a sports league declines in popularity or fails to generate fan enthusiasm, this may negatively impact our sports programming viewership and advertising and affiliate fee revenues. If a sports league declines in popularity or fails to generate fan enthusiasm, this may negatively impact viewership and advertising and affiliate fee revenues received in connection with our sports programming. Our operating results may be impacted in part by special events, such as the NFL’s Super Bowl, which is broadcast on the FOX Network on a rotating basis with other networks, and the FIFA World Cup, which occurs every four years, and other regular and post-season sports events that air on our networks. Our advertising and affiliate fee revenues are subject to fluctuations based on the dates of
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sports events and their availability for viewing on our networks and the popularity of the competing teams. For example, any decrease in the number of post-season games played in a sports league for which we have acquired broadcast programming rights, or the participation of a smaller-market sports franchise in post-season competition could result in lower advertising revenues for the Company. There can be no assurance that any sports league will continue to generate fan enthusiasm or provide the expected number of regular and post-season games for advertisers and customers, and the failure to do so could result in a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. A shortfall in the expected popularity of the sports events for which the Company has acquired rights or in the volume of sports programming the Company expects to distribute could adversely affect the Company’s advertising revenues in the near term and, over a longer period of time, its affiliate fee revenues.
The inability to renew programming rights, particularly sports programming rights, on sufficiently favorable terms, or at all, could cause the Company’s advertising and affiliate fee revenues to decline significantly in any given period or in specific markets.
We enter into long-term contracts for both the acquisition and distribution of media programming and products, including contracts for the acquisition of programming rights for sports events and other content, and contracts for the distribution of our programming to content distributors. Programming rights agreements, retransmission consent agreements, carriage contracts and affiliation agreements have varying durations and renewal terms that are subject to negotiation with other parties, the outcome of which is unpredictable. The negotiation of programming rights agreements for popular licensed programming, and popular licensed sports programming in particular, is complicated by the intensity of competition for these rights. An increasing number of companies bidding for sports programming in recent years has also driven increases in the cost of such programming. Moreover, the value of these agreements may be negatively affected by factors outside of our control, such as league agreements and decisions to alter the number, frequency and timing of regular and post-season games played during a season. We may be unable to renew existing, or enter into new, programming rights agreements on terms that are favorable to us and we may be outbid by third parties and therefore unable to obtain the rights at all. The loss of rights or renewal on less favorable terms could negatively impact the quality or quantity of our programming, in particular our sports programming, and could adversely affect our advertising and affiliate fee revenues. These revenues could also be negatively impacted if we do not obtain exclusive rights to the programming we distribute. Our results of operations and cash flows over the term of a sports programming agreement depend on a number of factors, including the strength of the advertising market, our audience size, the timing and amount of our rights payments and our ability to secure distribution from and impose surcharges or obtain carriage on MVPDs for the content. If escalations in programming rights costs (together with our production and distribution costs) are not offset by increases in advertising and affiliate fee revenues, our results of operations could be adversely affected.
Damage to our brands, particularly the FOX brand, or our reputation could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Our brands, particularly the FOX brand, are among our most valuable assets. We believe our brand image, awareness and reputation strengthen our relationship with consumers and contribute significantly to the success of our business. We believe that our brand image, awareness and reputation strengthen our relationship with consumers and contribute significantly to the success of our business. Maintaining, enhancing and extending our brands may require us to make significant investments in marketing, programming or new products, services or events, and these investments may not be successful. We may introduce new programming that is not popular with our consumers and advertisers, which may negatively affect our brands. To the extent our content is not compelling to consumers, it may adversely impact our ability to maintain a positive reputation. The Company’s brands, credibility and reputation have been impacted from time to time, and could be damaged in the future, by incidents that erode consumer, advertiser or business partner trust or a perception that the Company’s offerings, including its journalism, programming and other content, are low quality, unreliable or fail to attract and retain audiences. For example, the manipulation of content by bad actors, including the creation of “deep fakes” (videos created with AI to realistically impersonate persons such as journalists or political candidates), could erode audience trust by making it difficult to determine what is real. The manipulation of content by bad actors, including the creation of “deep fakes” (videos created with AI to realistically impersonate persons such as journalists or political candidates), could erode audience trust by making it difficult to determine what is real. FOX’s brands, credibility and reputation also could be adversely impacted if AI tools misattribute incorrect information to the Company or if the Company’s use of AI in its own products and services produces content, information, analyses or recommendations that are alleged to be deficient, inaccurate, biased, harmful, discriminatory, an intellectual property infringement, a violation of privacy rights or otherwise problematic. Additionally, litigation, governmental scrutiny and fines and significant negative claims or publicity regarding the Company or its operations, content, products, management, employees, practices, advertisers, business
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partners and culture, including individuals associated with content we create or license, may damage the Company's reputation and brands, even if meritless or untrue. To the extent our marketing, cybersecurity, customer service and public relations efforts are not effective or result in negative consumer reaction, our ability to maintain a positive reputation may likewise be adversely impacted. Furthermore, to the extent 25our marketing, cybersecurity, customer service and public relations efforts are not effective or result in negative consumer reaction, our ability to maintain a positive reputation may likewise be adversely impacted. If we are not successful in maintaining or enhancing the image or awareness of our brands, or if our reputation is harmed for any reason, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Acquisitions, investments and other strategic initiatives present many risks, and we may not realize the financial and strategic goals we had contemplated, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
We have acquired and invested in, and expect to continue acquiring and investing in, new businesses, products, services, technologies and other strategic initiatives to complement, enhance or expand our current businesses or otherwise offer us growth opportunities. Such acquisitions and investments may involve significant risks and uncertainties, including insufficient revenues from an investment to offset any new liabilities assumed and expenses associated with it; failure to perform as expected, meet financial projections, achieve strategic goals or further develop an acquired business, product, service or technology; unidentified issues not discovered in our due diligence that could cause us to not realize anticipated benefits or to incur unanticipated liabilities; difficulties in integrating the operations, personnel, technologies and systems of acquired businesses; the potential loss of key employees or customers of acquired businesses; the diversion of management attention from current operations; and legal and regulatory limitations. Additionally, strategic initiatives may cause potential disruption to our business and operations or unanticipated challenges to or loss of our relationships with new or existing advertisers, distributors, viewers, and others with whom we do business; and delays in or the cancellation of announced transactions or initiatives may occur. Because acquisitions, investments and strategic initiatives are inherently risky and their anticipated benefits or value may not materialize, they may adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
The loss of key personnel, including talent, could disrupt the management or operations of the Company’s business and adversely affect its revenues.
The Company's business depends on the continued efforts and abilities of key personnel, including news, sports and entertainment personalities. The loss of such personnel could disrupt the management or operations of the Company’s business and adversely affect its revenues. The Company employs or independently contracts with several news, sports and entertainment personalities who are featured on programming the Company offers. These personalities sometimes have a significant impact on the ranking of a cable network or station and its ability to attract and retain an audience and sell advertising. News, sports and entertainment personalities sometimes have a significant impact on the ranking of a cable network or station and its ability to attract and retain an audience and sell advertising. There can be no assurance that they will remain with us or retain their current appeal, that the costs associated with retaining current talent and hiring new talent will be favorable or acceptable to us, or that new talent will be as successful as their predecessors. There can be no assurance that our news, sports and entertainment personalities will remain with us or retain their current appeal, that the costs associated with retaining current talent and hiring new talent will be favorable or acceptable to us, or that new talent will be as successful as their predecessors. Any of the foregoing could adversely affect the Company's business, financial condition or results of operations.
Labor disputes may disrupt our operations and adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition or results of operations.
In a variety of the Company’s businesses, the Company and its partners engage the services of writers, directors, actors, musicians and other creative talent, commentators, production crew members, trade and craft employees and others whose services are subject to collective bargaining agreements.In a variety of the Company’s businesses, the Company and its partners engage the services of writers, directors, actors, musicians and other creative talent, production crew members, trade and craft employees and others whose services are subject to collective bargaining agreements. Certain of these are industry-wide agreements negotiated by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (the “AMPTP”) of which the Company is a non-voting member. The Company is bound by and enjoys the benefits of AMPTP-negotiated collective bargaining agreements, but is not directly involved in negotiating them. When negotiations to renew collective bargaining agreements are not successful or become unproductive, strikes, work stoppages or lockouts have occurred in the past, and such events could occur in the future. When negotiations to renew collective bargaining agreements are not successful or become unproductive, strikes, work stoppages or lockouts have occurred, such as the Writers Guild of America West (or WGA) and Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (or SAG-AFTRA) strikes in the Spring and Summer of 2023. Additional strikes, work stoppages or lockouts could occur in the future. Such events have caused, and may in the future cause, delays in production, higher production costs and increased costs of labor, which could reduce profit margins and could, over the long term, have an adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition or results of operations. Such events have caused, and may in the future cause, delays in production and may lead to higher costs in connection with new collective bargaining agreements, which could reduce profit margins and could, over the long term, have an adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition or results of operations.
In addition, our networks have programming rights agreements of varying scope and duration with various sports leagues to broadcast and produce sports events, including certain college football and basketball, NFL and MLB games.26In addition, our broadcast television and cable networks have programming rights agreements of varying scope and duration with various sports leagues to broadcast and produce sports events, including certain college football and basketball, NFL and MLB games. Any labor disputes that occur in any such league may preclude us from airing or otherwise
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distributing scheduled games or events, resulting in decreased revenues, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
The Company has recognized, and could continue to recognize, asset impairment charges for goodwill, intangible assets, programming and other assets and investments.The FCC generally regulates, among other things, the ownership of media, broadcast and multichannel video programming and technical operations of broadcast licensees.
The Company performs an annual impairment assessment of its recorded goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets, including FCC licenses. The Company also continually evaluates whether current factors or indicators, such as the prevailing conditions in the capital markets, require the performance of an interim impairment assessment of those assets, as well as other long-lived assets. Any significant shortfall, now or in the future, in advertising revenue and/or the expected popularity of our programming could lead to a downward revision in the fair value of certain reporting units. The Company holds investments in marketable and non-marketable equity securities. These investments are recorded either at fair value and measured on a recurring basis based on quoted prices in active markets or on a non-recurring basis whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts may not be recoverable. The occurrence of certain events or circumstances has resulted in, and could continue to result in, a downward revision in the fair value of a reporting unit, indefinite-lived intangible assets, programming rights, investments or long-lived assets that could result in a non-cash impairment charge. Any such charge could be material to the Company’s reported net earnings in a given reporting period. During fiscal 2025, in connection with the Company’s annual impairment assessment, the Company recorded a non-cash impairment charge for intangible assets of approximately $70 million at the Television segment primarily related to FCC licenses. See Note 2, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies,” to the accompanying consolidated financial statements included in this Form 10-K for further discussion.
Risks Relating to Cybersecurity, Piracy, Privacy and Data Protection
The degradation, failure or misuse of the Company’s network and information systems and other technology could cause a disruption of services or improper disclosure of personal data or other confidential information, resulting in increased costs, liabilities or loss of revenue.
Cloud services, content delivery and other networks, information systems and other technologies that we or our vendors or other partners use, including technology systems used in connection with the production and distribution of our content (the “Systems”), are critical to our business activities, and shutdowns or disruptions of, and cybersecurity attacks on, the Systems pose increasing risks. Disruptions to the Systems, such as computer hacking and phishing, theft, computer viruses, ransomware, worms or other destructive software, process breakdowns, denial of service attacks or other malicious activities, as well as power outages, natural or other disasters (including extreme weather), human error, terrorist and/or nation state-sponsored activities and insider threats (including actions by persons linked to hostile foreign governments, and/or organized criminal groups), may affect the Systems and could result in disruption of our services, misappropriation, misuse, alteration, theft, loss, leakage, falsification, and accidental or premature release or improper disclosure of confidential or other information, including intellectual property and personal data (of third parties, employees and users of our streaming services and other digital properties) contained on the Systems. Disruptions to the Systems, such as computer hacking and phishing, theft, computer viruses, ransomware, worms or other destructive software, process breakdowns, denial of service attacks or other malicious activities, as well as power outages, natural or other disasters (including extreme weather), human error, terrorist and/or state-sponsored activities and insider threats (including actions by persons linked to hostile foreign governments, and/or organized criminal groups), may affect the Systems and could result in disruption of our services, misappropriation, misuse, alteration, theft, loss, leakage, falsification, and accidental or premature release or improper disclosure of confidential or other information, including intellectual property and personal data (of third parties, employees and users of our streaming services and other digital properties) contained on the Systems. The techniques used to access, disable or degrade service or sabotage systems change frequently and continue to become more sophisticated and targeted, and the increasing use of AI may intensify cybersecurity risks. In addition, ongoing tensions with China, North Korea, Russia and other nation states, conflicts in the Middle East and Europe, and other geopolitical events may lead to cyberattacks or other actions that could lead to a disruption of services, improper disclosure of personal data or other confidential information, or otherwise negatively impact the Systems (including supply chain disruption and attacks). In addition, ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Europe, as well as other geopolitical events, including tensions with North Korea, Russia, China and other states, may lead to cyberattacks or other actions that could lead to a disruption of services, improper disclosure of personal data or other confidential information, or otherwise negatively impact the Systems (including supply chain disruption). The Company’s high-profile sports and entertainment programming and its extensive news coverage of elections, sociopolitical events and public controversies subject us to heightened cybersecurity risks. From time to time, the Company experiences cybersecurity threats and attacks. Although no cybersecurity incident has been material to the Company’s businesses to date, we expect to continue to be subject to cybersecurity threats and attacks and there can be no assurance that we will not experience a material incident. Any cybersecurity incidents could result in a disruption of our operations, customer or advertiser dissatisfaction, damage to our reputation or brands, regulatory investigations, claims, lawsuits or loss of customers or revenue, and the Company may also be subject to liability under relevant contractual obligations and laws and regulations protecting personal data and may be required to expend significant resources to defend, remedy and/or address any incidents. While we and our vendors and partners continue to develop, implement and maintain security measures seeking to identify and mitigate cybersecurity risks, including unauthorized access to or misuse of the Systems, such efforts are
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costly, require ongoing monitoring and updating and may not be successful in preventing these events from occurring. In addition, the Company’s recovery and business continuity plans may not be adequate to address any cybersecurity incidents that occur, and the Company may not have adequate insurance coverage to compensate it for any losses that may occur.
Technological developments may increase the threat of content piracy and signal theft and limit the Company’s ability to protect its intellectual property rights.
Content piracy and signal theft present a threat to the Company’s revenues from products and services, including television shows, cable and other programming. The Company seeks to limit the threat of content piracy as well as cable and direct broadcast satellite programming signal theft; however, policing unauthorized use of the Company’s products and services and related intellectual property is often difficult and the steps taken by the Company may not in every case prevent infringement. Although no content theft has been material to the Company’s businesses to date, we expect to continue to be subject to content threats and there can be no assurance that we will not experience a material incident. Developments in technology increase the threat of content piracy by making it easier to create, access, duplicate, widely distribute, display and store high-quality pirated material. These developments include recent advances in AI and large language model applications, digital copying, file compression technology, growing penetration of high-bandwidth Internet connections, increased availability and speed of mobile data networks, and new devices and applications that enable unauthorized access to content. In addition, developments in software or devices that circumvent encryption technology and the falling prices of devices incorporating such technologies increase the threat of unauthorized use and distribution of direct broadcast satellite programming signals and distribution to MVPDs with set-top boxes, and the proliferation of user-generated content sites and live and stored video streaming sites that deliver unauthorized copies of copyrighted content may adversely impact the Company’s businesses. In addition, developments in software or devices that circumvent encryption technology and the falling prices of devices incorporating such technologies increase the threat of unauthorized use and distribution of direct broadcast satellite programming signals and the proliferation of user-generated content sites and live and stored video streaming sites, which deliver unauthorized copies of copyrighted content, including those emanating from other countries in various languages, may adversely impact the Company’s businesses. The proliferation of unauthorized reproduction, display, distribution and/or use of the Company’s content could have an adverse effect on the Company’s businesses and profitability because it reduces the revenue that the Company could potentially receive from the legitimate sale and distribution of its products and services. The legal landscape for new technologies remains uncertain, and legal developments in this area could negatively impact the Company’s ability to deploy new technologies or its ability to protect against uses of FOX’s proprietary content by unauthorized third parties, including generative AI developers. The legal landscape for new technologies, including AI, remains uncertain, and development of the law in this area could negatively impact the Company’s ability to protect against unauthorized third-party infringing uses or result in intellectual property infringement claims against the Company. The Company’s use or adoption of such new technologies may also increase the Company’s exposure to intellectual property claims and further increase its enforcement costs.
The Company takes a variety of actions to combat piracy and signal theft, but the protection of the Company’s intellectual property rights depends on the scope and duration of the Company’s rights as defined by applicable laws in the U.S. and abroad and how those laws are construed. If those laws are interpreted in ways that limit the extent or duration of the Company’s rights or if existing laws are changed, the Company’s ability to generate revenue from intellectual property may decrease or the cost of obtaining and enforcing its rights may increase. A change in the laws of one jurisdiction may also have an impact on the Company’s overall ability to protect its intellectual property rights across other jurisdictions. The Company’s efforts to enforce its rights and protect its products, services and intellectual property may not be successful in preventing content piracy or signal theft. Further, while piracy and the proliferation of piracy-enabling technology tools continue to escalate, if any laws intended to combat piracy and protect intellectual property are repealed, weakened or not adequately enforced, or if the applicable legal systems fail to evolve and adapt to new technologies that facilitate piracy, we may be unable to effectively protect our rights, the value of our intellectual property may be negatively impacted, and our costs of enforcing our rights could increase.
Third parties may challenge the validity or scope of the Company’s intellectual property from time to time, and such challenges could result in the limitation or loss of the Company’s intellectual property rights. Even if not valid, such claims may result in substantial costs and diversion of resources that could have an adverse effect on the Company’s operations.
The Company is subject to complex laws, regulations, rules, industry standards and contractual obligations related to privacy and personal data protection, which are evolving, inconsistent and potentially costly.The Company is subject to complex laws, regulations, rules, industry standards, and contractual obligations related to privacy and personal data protection, which are evolving, inconsistent and potentially costly.
We are subject to U.S. federal and state laws and regulations, as well as those of other countries, relating to the collection, use, disclosure and security of personal information. The number and complexity of these laws
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and regulations continues to increase. For example, more than a dozen states have passed legislation imposing broad obligations on businesses’ collection, use, handling and disclosure of personal information of their respective residents and imposing fines for noncompliance. For example, California, Virginia, Utah, Colorado, Connecticut, and several other states have passed legislation imposing broad obligations on businesses’ collection, use, handling and disclosure of personal information of their respective residents and imposing fines for noncompliance. In addition, the E.U., the U.K. and other countries have privacy and data security legislation with significant penalties for violations that apply to certain of the Company’s operations. New privacy and data protection laws and regulations continue to be introduced and interpretations of existing privacy laws and regulations, some of which may be inconsistent with one another, continue to evolve. As a result, significant uncertainty exists as to their application and scope. Compliance with these laws and regulations may be costly and could require the Company to change its business practices, including in connection with data-driven targeted advertising. Although the Company expends significant resources to comply with data privacy and protection laws, we have been and may continue to be subject to legal claims and may be subject to regulatory action despite these efforts. Any such actions could result in damage to our reputation or brands, loss of customers or revenue, and other negative impacts to our operations. The Company may also be subject to liability under relevant contractual obligations and may be required to expend significant resources to defend, remedy and/or address any claims. The Company may not have adequate insurance coverage to compensate it for any losses that may occur. For more information, see Item 1, “Business – Government Regulation – Privacy and Information Regulation. For more information, see Item 1, “Government Regulation – Privacy and Information Regulation. ”
Risks Relating to Legal and Regulatory Matters
Changes in laws and regulations, or the interpretation or enforcement thereof, may have an adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition or results of operations.
The Company is subject to a variety of laws and regulations in the jurisdictions in which its businesses operate, as described in Item 1 “Business – Government Regulation.The Company is subject to a variety of laws and regulations in the jurisdictions in which its businesses operate. ” The U.S. television broadcasting and traditional MVPD industries are highly regulated by federal laws and regulations issued and administered by various federal agencies, including the FCC. Among other things, the Company is required to apply for and operate in compliance with licenses from the FCC to operate its television stations, purchase a new television station, or sell an existing television station. The Company may be subject to investigations or fines under FCC rules and policies, or delays in its renewal and other applications with the FCC. From time to time, the FCC considers whether virtual MVPDs should be considered MVPDs (as defined and regulated by the FCC), which could negatively impact the Company’s distribution model. In addition, from time to time, the FCC considers whether virtual MVPDs should be considered MVPDs (as defined by the FCC) and regulated as such, which could negatively impact the Company’s distribution model.
The Company could be adversely affected by new laws and regulations, changes in existing laws and regulations, changes in judicial and regulators’ interpretations of laws and regulations or in regulators’ priorities or activities, as well as by the threat that additional laws or regulations may be forthcoming. In particular, the legal and regulatory landscape governing new technologies such as AI remains unsettled and is an area of increasing regulatory focus. In particular, the legal and regulatory landscape governing AI remains unsettled, and developments in this area may adversely impact our business. Developments in this area may adversely impact the Company’s business, including through increased legal liability risk and compliance costs associated with the use of AI and large language models. In addition, new laws and regulations may vary between local, state, federal and international jurisdictions and may conflict, and the enforcement of these laws and regulations may be inconsistent and unpredictable, further intensifying compliance risks. Changes in the legal or regulatory landscape could require FOX to change or limit certain of its business practices in ways that negatively impact the Company, including its competitive position and its ability to generate revenues. FOX could also incur substantial costs to comply with new and existing laws and regulations and could face substantial penalties or other liabilities, reputational damage or increased scrutiny from regulators or stakeholders if it fails to comply with such laws and regulations. Any of the foregoing could have a material adverse effect on FOX’s business, financial condition or results of operations. Any of the foregoing could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
The Communications Act and FCC regulations limit the ability of non-U.S. citizens and certain other persons to invest in us.
The Company owns broadcast station licensees in connection with its ownership and operation of U.S. television stations. Under the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, which we refer to as the Communications Act, and the FCC rules, without the FCC’s prior approval, no broadcast station licensee may be owned by a corporation if more than 25% of its stock is owned or voted by non-U.S. persons, their representatives, or by any other corporation organized under the laws of a foreign country. The Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation authorizes the Board to take action to prevent, cure or mitigate the effect of stock ownership above the applicable foreign ownership threshold, including: refusing to permit any transfer of Common Stock to or ownership of Common Stock by a non-U.S. stockholder; voiding a
26

transfer of Common Stock to a non-U.S. stockholder; suspending rights of stock ownership if held by a non-U.S. stockholder; or redeeming Common Stock held by a non-U.S. stockholder. We are currently in compliance with applicable U.S. law and continue to monitor our foreign ownership based on our assessment of the information reasonably available to us, but we are not able to predict whether we will need to take action pursuant to our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation. The FCC could review the Company’s compliance with applicable U.S. law in connection with its consideration of the Company’s renewal applications for licenses to operate the broadcast stations the Company owns.
The failure or destruction of satellites or transmitter facilities the Company depends on to distribute its programming could materially adversely affect its businesses and results of operations, as could changes in FCC regulations governing the availability and use of satellite transmission spectrum.
The Company uses satellite systems to transmit its broadcast and cable networks to affiliates. The distribution facilities include communications satellites, uplinks, downlinks, and studio and transmitter facilities. The distribution facilities include uplinks, communications satellites and downlinks. Transmissions may be disrupted or degraded as a result of local disasters, extreme weather, power outages, terrorist attacks, cyberattacks or other events that impair on-ground uplinks or downlinks or studio and transmitter facilities, or as a result of an impairment of a satellite. Currently, there are a limited number of communications satellites available for the transmission of programming. If a disruption occurs, failure to secure alternate distribution facilities in a timely manner could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business and results of operations. In the event of a business disruption of the Company’s television station and cable network studio and transmitter facilities, a failure to restore such facilities in a timely manner could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s businesses and results of operations. In 2020, the FCC reallocated sixty percent of a band of satellite transmission spectrum known as the “C-Band” used by the television industry to transmit programming in order to free up spectrum for the next generation of commercial wireless broadband services. In 2020, the FCC began reallocating and “re-packing” a band of satellite transmission spectrum known as the “C-Band” used by the television industry to transmit programming in order to free up spectrum for the next generation of commercial wireless broadband services. This has reduced the availability and use of satellite transmission spectrum for the television industry. This has reduced the availability and use of satellite transmission spectrum for the television industry, and additional changes in FCC regulations could lead to further reductions. In February 2025, the FCC began a proceeding to explore whether the remaining C-Band should be, in whole or in part, reallocated for commercial wireless and/or broadband services. On July 4, 2025, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act was signed into law, directing the FCC to conduct within two years an auction of at least 100 MHz of C-Band spectrum. The decreased availability of satellite transmission spectrum could diminish the quality of and increase interference to our transmissions, which could significantly hinder the Company’s ability to deliver its programming to broadcast affiliates and traditional MVPDs.
The Company could be subject to significant tax liabilities.
We are subject to taxation in U.S. federal, state and local, as well as certain international jurisdictions. Changes in tax laws, regulations, practices or the interpretations thereof could adversely affect the Company’s results of operations or its tax assets. Judgment is required in evaluating and estimating our provision and accruals for taxes. In addition, transactions occur during the ordinary course of business or otherwise for which the ultimate tax determination is uncertain.
Tax returns are routinely audited, tax-related litigation or settlements may occur, and certain jurisdictions may assess income tax liabilities against us. The final outcomes of tax audits, investigations, and any related litigation could result in materially different tax recognition from our historical tax provisions and accruals. These outcomes could conflict with private letter rulings, opinions of counsel or other interpretations provided to the Company. If these matters are adversely resolved, we may be required to recognize additional charges to our tax provisions and pay significant additional amounts with respect to current or prior periods or our taxes in the future could increase, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.
Unfavorable litigation or governmental investigation results could require us to pay significant amounts or lead to onerous operating procedures.
From time to time, we are subject to various legal proceedings (including class action and individual lawsuits, administrative complaints, regulatory investigations and arbitration proceedings), involving claims relating to, among other things, competition, intellectual property rights, employment and labor matters, personal injury and property damage, free speech, data privacy and protection, regulatory requirements, and advertising, marketing and selling practices.From time to time, we are subject to various legal proceedings (including class action lawsuits, claims, regulatory investigations and arbitration proceedings), involving claims relating to, among other things, competition, intellectual property rights, employment and labor matters, personal injury and property damage, 30free speech, data privacy and protection, regulatory requirements, and advertising, marketing and selling practices. See Note 14, “Commitments and Contingencies,” to the accompanying consolidated financial statements included in this Form 10-K for a discussion of certain of these
27

matters. The Company has incurred significant expenses defending against the defamation and disparagement matters described in Note 14, including the payment of approximately $800 million to settle the Dominion matter and a related lawsuit in April 2023.
The Company continues to believe the Smartmatic and other lawsuits alleging defamation or disparagement as well as related derivative lawsuits are without merit and intends to defend against them vigorously, including through any appeals. However, the outcome of these pending matters is subject to significant uncertainty, and it is possible that an adverse resolution of one or more of these pending matters could result in reputational harm and/or significant monetary damages, injunctive relief or settlement costs. There can be no assurance that the ultimate resolution of these pending matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
We also spend substantial resources complying with various regulatory and government standards, including any related investigations and litigation. We may incur additional significant expenses in the future defending against any lawsuit or government charge and may be required to pay amounts or otherwise change our operations in ways that could adversely impact our businesses, results of operations, financial condition or cash flows. In addition, regardless of merit or outcome, litigation and government investigations are time-consuming and costly to defend, divert management’s attention and resources away from our business, may result in reputational harm and may impair our ability to conduct our business.
Risks Relating to Our Ownership Structure Certain of the Company’s directors and significant stockholders may have actual or potential conflicts of interest because of their equity ownership in News Corp or because they also serve as directors of News Corp.Risks Relating to Our Ownership StructureCertain of the Company’s directors and significant stockholders may have actual or potential conflicts of interest because of their equity ownership in News Corp or because they also serve as directors of News Corp.
In June 2013, Twenty-First Century Fox, Inc. completed the separation of its businesses into two independent publicly traded companies by distributing to its shareholders shares of a new company called News Corporation (“News Corp”). Certain of the Company’s directors and significant stockholders own shares of common stock of News Corp, and the individual holdings may be significant for some of these individuals compared to their total assets. In addition, FOX’s Executive Chair and Chief Executive Officer, Lachlan K. Murdoch, also serves as the Chair of News Corp. This ownership of or service to both companies may create, or may create the appearance of, conflicts of interest when these individuals are faced with decisions that could have different implications for News Corp and the Company. In addition to any other arrangements that the Company and News Corp may agree to implement, the Company and News Corp have agreed that officers and directors who serve at both companies will recuse themselves from decisions where conflicts arise due to their positions at both companies.
Our Amended and Restated By-laws acknowledge that our directors and officers, as well as certain of our stockholders, including K. Rupert Murdoch, certain members of his family and certain family trusts (so long as such persons continue to own, in the aggregate, 10% or more of the voting stock of each of News Corp and the Company), each of which we refer to as a covered stockholder, are or may become stockholders, directors, officers, employees or agents of News Corp and certain of its affiliates. Our Amended and Restated By-laws provide that any such overlapping person will not be liable to us, or to any of our stockholders, for breach of any fiduciary duty that would otherwise exist because such individual directs a corporate opportunity to News Corp instead of us. The provisions in our Amended and Restated By-laws could result in an overlapping person submitting any corporate opportunities to News Corp instead of us.
Certain provisions of the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, amended and restated by-laws, Delaware law and the ownership of the Company’s Common Stock by the Murdoch Family Trust may discourage takeovers and the concentration of ownership will affect the voting results of matters submitted for stockholder approval.
The Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated By-laws contain certain anti-takeover provisions that may make more difficult or expensive a tender offer, change in control, or takeover attempt that is opposed by the Company’s Board or certain stockholders holding a significant percentage of the voting power of the Company’s outstanding voting stock. In particular, the
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Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated By-laws provide for, among other things:
•a dual class common equity capital structure, in which holders of FOX Class A Common Stock can vote only in very specific, limited circumstances;
•a prohibition on stockholders taking any action by written consent without a meeting (unless there are three record holders or fewer);
•special stockholders’ meeting to be called only by a majority of the Board, the Chair or vice or deputy chair, or upon the written request of holders of not less than 20% of the voting power of our outstanding voting stock;
•the requirement that stockholders give the Company advance notice to nominate candidates for election to the Board or to make stockholder proposals at a stockholders’ meeting;
•the requirement of an affirmative vote of at least 65% of the voting power of the Company’s outstanding voting stock to amend or repeal our Amended and Restated By-laws;
•restrictions on the transfer of the Company’s shares; and
•the Board to issue, without stockholder approval, preferred stock and series common stock with such terms as the Board may determine.
These provisions could discourage potential acquisition proposals and could delay or prevent a change in control of the Company, even in the case where a majority of the stockholders may consider such proposals desirable.
Further, as a result of his ability to appoint certain members of the board of directors of the corporate trustee of the Murdoch Family Trust, which beneficially owns less than one percent of the outstanding FOX Class A Common Stock and 43.39% of FOX Class B Common Stock, K. Rupert Murdoch may be deemed to be a beneficial owner of the shares beneficially owned by the Murdoch Family Trust. K. Rupert Murdoch, however, disclaims any beneficial ownership of these shares. Also, K. Rupert Murdoch beneficially owns or may be deemed to beneficially own an additional less than one percent of FOX Class B Common Stock. Thus, K. Rupert Murdoch may be deemed to beneficially own in the aggregate less than one percent of FOX Class A Common Stock and 43.90% of FOX Class B Common Stock.
This concentration of voting power could discourage third parties from making proposals involving an acquisition of the Company. Additionally, the ownership concentration of FOX Class B Common Stock by the Murdoch Family Trust increases the likelihood that proposals submitted for stockholder approval that are supported by the Murdoch Family Trust will be adopted and proposals that the Murdoch Family Trust does not support will not be adopted, whether or not such proposals to stockholders are also supported by the other holders of FOX Class B Common Stock.
The Company’s Board has approved a $12 billion stock repurchase program for the FOX Class A Common Stock and FOX Class B Common Stock, which has and in the future could increase the percentage of FOX Class B Common Stock held by the Murdoch Family Trust. The Company has entered into a stockholders agreement with the Murdoch Family Trust pursuant to which the Company and the Murdoch Family Trust have agreed not to take actions that would result in the Murdoch Family Trust and Murdoch family members together owning more than 44% of the outstanding voting power of the shares of FOX Class B Common Stock or would increase the Murdoch Family Trust’s voting power by more than 1.75% in any rolling 12-month period. The Murdoch Family Trust would forfeit votes to the extent necessary to ensure that the Murdoch Family Trust and the Murdoch family collectively do not exceed 44% of the outstanding voting power of the Class B Common Stock, except where a Murdoch family member votes their own shares differently from the Murdoch Family Trust on any matter.
Risks Related to the Company’s Separation from 21CF
The indemnification arrangements the Company entered into with 21CF in connection with the Transaction may require the Company to divert cash to satisfy indemnification obligations to 21CF. The
29

indemnification from 21CF may not be sufficient to insure the Company against the full amount of liabilities that have been allocated to 21CF.
Pursuant to the agreements the Company and 21CF entered into in connection with the Transaction, 21CF will indemnify the Company for certain liabilities and the Company will indemnify 21CF for certain liabilities. Payments pursuant to these indemnities may be significant and could negatively impact our business. Third parties could also seek to hold the Company responsible for any of the liabilities of the businesses that were retained by 21CF in connection with the Transaction. 21CF has agreed to indemnify the Company for such liabilities, but such indemnity from 21CF may not be sufficient to protect the Company against the full amount of such liabilities, and 21CF may not be able to fully satisfy its indemnification obligations. Moreover, even if the Company ultimately succeeds in recovering from 21CF any amounts for which it is held liable, the Company may be temporarily required to bear these losses itself. These risks could negatively affect our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
The Company could be liable for income taxes owed by 21CF.
Each member of the 21CF consolidated group, which, prior to the Transaction, included 21CF, the Company and 21CF’s other subsidiaries, is jointly and severally liable for the U.S. federal income and, in certain jurisdictions, state tax liabilities of each other member of the consolidated group for periods prior to and including the Transaction. Consequently, the Company could be liable in the event any such liability is incurred, and not discharged, by any other member of what was previously the 21CF consolidated group. The tax matters agreement entered into in connection with the Transaction requires 21CF and/or Disney to indemnify the Company for any such liability. Disputes or assessments could arise during future audits by the taxing authorities in amounts that the Company cannot quantify.
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.
ITEM 1C. CYBERSECURITY
The Company maintains a cybersecurity program that is designed to identify, detect, assess and manage cybersecurity risks. The Company’s senior management and its Board are actively involved in the oversight of the Company’s risk management program, of which cybersecurity is an important part. The Company’s cybersecurity program, which aligns to the National Institute of Standards and Technology Cybersecurity Framework (the “NIST Framework”) includes, among other things:
• regular internal and external penetration testing of our technology environments at the application, infrastructure and network level, covering the systems, products and practices collecting or storing confidential business and personal information— including user data—in accordance with the Company’s security policies. This testing is conducted multiple times a year by third-party firms;
• third-party provider security assessments to evaluate associated risks and appropriate internal and third-party provider security controls;
• processes to manage security risks and vulnerabilities;
• mandatory company-wide cybersecurity compliance and information handling training;
• a documented cybersecurity incident response plan that establishes procedures, roles, responsibilities and communication protocols for internal staff and external resources in the event of a cybersecurity incident;
• cybersecurity tools that assist with the automation and orchestration of security alert response based on the relative risk; and
• threat intelligence sharing relationships with industry partners, peers, and government agencies, as needed and appropriate.
FOX’s cybersecurity program is based on recognized best practices and standards applicable to our industry. The Company engages a third-party firm to assess the overall maturity of its program against the NIST Framework on a bi-annual basis. This evaluation includes an assessment of how the program evaluates and
30

mitigates risk, as well as how it compares against industry benchmarks. The results of this evaluation are provided to the Audit Committee of the Board.
The Company’s Chief Information Security Officer (“CISO”) leads the Company’s dedicated information security department, which monitors FOX’s prevention, detection, mitigation and remediation efforts related to cyber threats. The CISO regularly consults with the Company’s Co-Chief Privacy Officers, and the Company’s Chief Technology Officer (“CTO”) provides additional oversight of the cybersecurity program, and previously served as the Company’s CISO. The CISO has over 15 years of experience in cybersecurity, information security and technology, including a background in broadcast media and networking and systems engineering, and has held numerous industry certifications.
The CISO is in regular communication with senior management regarding cybersecurity matters and provides frequent routine (generally weekly) updates to the Company’s Executive Chair and Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer (“COO”), Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), CTO and Chief Legal and Policy Officer. As part of the Company’s incident response plan process, cybersecurity risk events of a certain criteria are communicated in a timely manner to the Company’s incident response governing body, which is comprised of members of senior management, including the COO, CTO, and CFO. The Company tests the effectiveness of the incidence response plan and assesses its response capabilities by conducting executive tabletop exercises involving detailed topical cybersecurity scenarios with these executives, as well as technical tabletop exercises including technical and operational personnel. The Company also has processes in place that are designed to ensure that decisions regarding public disclosure and reporting of cybersecurity incidents can be made in a timely manner.
The Company’s Board has an active role, as a whole and at the committee level, in overseeing the management of the Company’s risks. The Audit Committee of the Board is responsible for (i) overseeing the Company’s policies and practices with respect to risk assessment and risk management, including with respect to cybersecurity and the use of AI, (ii) overseeing the Company’s financial and other major risk exposures and the steps taken to monitor and control them, and (iii) providing guidance to the Board on such matters.
The Audit Committee regularly reviews and discusses FOX’s cybersecurity risks and receives updates from the CISO on how the Company identifies, assesses and mitigates these risks. The CISO provides the Audit Committee with quarterly reports regarding cybersecurity issues and risks, including information regarding progress on efforts to strengthen and enhance the Company’s cybersecurity program. The Audit Committee also periodically devotes additional meeting time, as needed, to in-depth discussions on a particularly relevant cybersecurity topic, including industry trends and relative risks. In addition to the quarterly reports, cybersecurity incidents meeting certain criteria are reported to the Audit Committee outside of regularly scheduled quarterly updates as necessary.
From time to time, the Company experiences cybersecurity threats and attacks. Although no cybersecurity incident has materially affected the Company’s businesses to date, FOX expects to continue to be subject to cybersecurity threats and attacks and there can be no assurance that the Company will not experience a material incident. For more information, see Item 1A., “Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Cybersecurity, Piracy, Privacy and Data Protection.”
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